Fairfax County Executive Edward L. Long presented his proposed
Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Budget, including the Multi-Year FY 2015-2016
Budget Plan to the Board of
Supervisors at its meeting today. He proposed aGeneral Fundbudget of $3.7 billion
for FY 2015 (July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015), an increase
of 3.29 percent over the FY 2014 Adopted Budget Plan. (The total
of all appropriated funds is $6.95 billion, which includes the
General Fund as well as other appropriated funds such as state and
federal grants.)

The proposed FY 2015 Budget maintains the FY 2014 Real Estate Tax
Rate at $1.085 per $100 of assessed value. The average increase
in residential assessments (value) countywide for 2014 is 6.54
percent. This means that FY 2015 real estate taxes per typical
household will increase $331.67 in FY 2015. However, commercial
values remain a significant concern, remaining essentially level over
the last year. Note: The value of a penny on the Real Estate Tax
Rate is $21.9 million in FY 2015. Each penny change in the tax rate
equals an average $50 on a taxpayer’s bill.

“As the county continues to face fiscal challenges, we must persist
in our cautious and deliberative approach to budgeting, only funding
items that are sustainable. We also must be ready to make the
necessary decisions to maintain investment in our services,
infrastructure and development of the community,” explained
Long. “Almost all of the budget increase I am proposing is for
capital investment and for employee compensation – these are two
critical elements of our continued success.”

The recommended transfer to Fairfax County Public Schools
(FCPS) for school operations and debt service is$1.93
billion, a 2.07 percent and $39,113,302 increase over FY 2014.
This transfer accounts for 52.1 percent of the proposed county budget
expenditures. Although not included in the transfer, the
proposed county budget also includes $72.6 million in additional
support for school services including Head Start, school health,
resource officers and crossing guards, after-school programming,
field maintenance and recreational programs, among others.

“Earlier this month, the School Board requested a 5.7 percent
increase for FY 2015,” said Long. “This request would require an
additional $63.8 million in funding and an increase in the Real
Estate Tax Rate, which has not been included in my budget proposal.”

Summary of Additional Proposed Budget Recommendations:

A 1.29 percent compensation increase for county employees based on
a Market Rate Adjustment, effective July 1, 2014, as well an
increase in funding of health insurance and other benefits.

Those wishing to speak at a public hearing can sign up online to place their
name on the speakers list or contact the Office
of the Clerk to the Board at 703-324-3151, TTY 703-324-3903. The
public hearings will be held in the Board Auditorium, Fairfax County
Government Center and will be shown live on Fairfax County Government
Channel 16. You can also provide feedback and comments on the
proposed budget through mid-April at dmbinfo@fairfaxcounty.gov
. Given the volume of comments, individual responses will not
be possible.